A young friend reported that he went to his first middle school dance “for the snacks.” That is a great reason. Food makes things better, including the awkwardness of sashaying across a gym floor.
I love baseball, in part, for the hotdogs and peanuts and also ice cream that you can buy in a plastic miniature hat. These souvenirs are also perfect for eating cereal the next morning.
I have taken my kids to princess-themed birthday parties and Star Wars themed parties, parties at trampoline parks and parties at actual parks. There is always cake — one of the best parts.
My oldest will divulge bits of information about his day in the fourth grade only over snacks like Cheese-Its and sliced apples. Is it bribery? You’re darn right. My wife is a former campus minister. She knows if you promise to feed college students, they will come.
Often when I sit down to plan a celebration of someone’s life with members of my congregation, they will first want to talk about the reception. What foods will we provide? Jesus himself asked to be remembered by sharing bread and wine. Jack Kornfield summarized a teaching of the Buddha as, “If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.”
Snacks provide a holy opportunity.
Genesis 18 tells the story of Abraham feeding three strangers who visited his tent. He called these visitors “Adonai,” which might have been a respectful address like “Sir.” But noting the Holy One is also called Adonai, medieval commentator Rashi interpreted the verse as implying that Abraham stopped mid-prayer in order to feed the strangers. The visitors eventually revealed themselves to be angelic beings.
My friends, parents of the child attending his first middle school dance, volunteered to chaperone that evening. They provided popsicles as a cool treat after the students boogied to the likes of the Cupid Shuffle — “Down, down, do your dance, do your dance.” A popular dance comes and goes, but who knows what a difference a little food can make? Some have entertained angels unawares.
